LONDON, June 5, 2010–It was to have been an
enjoyable social gathering following an Annual General Meeting.But for members of LGBT Labour the evening turned into one of
homophobic horror, which former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott later
described as “disgraceful”.

A booking had been made at the Greencoat Boy in
Westminster for a social event following this afternoon’s Annual General
Meeting.

But when they got there, members were told in no
uncertain terms that they were not welcomed there.

Mr. Angell went on to
explain that
members were standing at the bar.“We are not being served because we are a gay group,” he said, adding
that he had not personally come across such blatant homophobia in recent
years.

On their Twitter account, LGBT Labour posted: “Appalling
homophobia at central London pub. Manager refusing to serve members of
LGBTLabour”.Twenty minutes
later, the group posted: “Manager at The Greencoat Boy near Westminster told
members he would have refused the LGBTLabour booking if he'd known it was an
LGBT group!”

Minutes later, the group posted that they had reported the incident as a
hate crime. “Police are now here,
details being given,” they Tweeted.

Mr. Angell said by telephone that he and two others were on their way to
Charing Cross police station to give statements.

Michael Cashman, the co-president of the European
Parliament’s all-party ‘Intergroup’ for gay and lesbian rights, is a
member of LGBT Labour and attended the Annual General Meeting.

He was not a the Post-AGM Social event, but when he
heard about the homophobic attitude of the Greencoat Boy manager he
Tweeted: “Boycott
this bloody brewery. A total
apology is not enough”.

Former Labour MP and Deputy Prime Minister Joh Prescott
Tweeted: “40 years ago we campaigned against a Hull pub that banned ‘women &
queers’. This is disgraceful.”

The Greencoat Boy pub belongs to Punch Taverns. UK Gay
News has tried to get in touch with the company for comment, but
without success so far.

Under UK legislation for the provision of goods and services, it is
against the law to discriminate and refuse to serve someone on the basis
of race, ethnicity, or sexuality.

Punch Taverns Must Call Time on Homophobia, Say LGBT Labour. LGBT Labour is calling an apology from Punch Taverns after the group fell victim yesterday evening to
homophobic abuse at the company’s Greencoat Boy pub in Westminster, London, where they had booked a social event.
(UK Gay News, June 6, 2010)